Join us at an Earth Day event at Beargrass Falls on Tuesday, April 22nd from Noon to 1:00 p.m. Working with a group of neighborhood, governmental and environmental groups an earth day celebration is being planned. It will feature a dedication of the research/demonstration green infrastructure and water quality facilities at Beargrass Falls as well as a series of displays on recommendations to implement the Louisville Sustainability Plan's goals on improving water quality (focusing on the lower reaches of Beargrass Creek. For more information about Beargrass Falls please click on the following link to watch a Metro TV aired a show on Beargrass Falls.
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The 9th District and the Energy Pros are holding a One Stop Drop Responsible Recycling Event on Saturday, May 10th from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm at Louisville Water Tower Park, home of the WaterWorks Museum, 3005 River Road. This drive-thru event is FREE. While sponsored by District 9, any citizen in Louisville may participate at this FREE event. Businesses may not drop off items at this event. We will be accepting a multitude of items to be reused or recycled. We are working on a complete list of what will be accepted, which will be posted in the next few weeks. Click here to view a flyer for the event.
We are looking for volunteers to help direct traffic and collect donations. If you are interested in volunteering please call 574-1109 or email Kyle Ethridge.
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The Kentucky Environmental Quality Commission presented its annual Earth Day awards to individuals and groups who have made significant contributions to the environment. This year’s event took place at the Berry Hill Mansion in Frankfort. To learn more, visit http://eqc.ky.gov. Recipients were as follows:
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- In an effort to clean up Floyds Fork, located in north central Kentucky, Teena Halbig and Sheron Lear formed the Floyds Fork Environmental Association.
- By founding a sustainability committee in local government and starting a website called Green Triangle, Louisville’s District 9 Councilwoman Tina Ward-Pugh leads the way in green thinking.
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The Green Institute, Louisville, provides a 12-week course for business and community leaders. The homework results in community projects such as creating rain gardens; fixing downspout disconnections; planting trees to reduce the heat island effect; and developing a neighborhood weatherization squad among many other noteworthy projects. The institute is operated by the Center for Neighborhoods, directed by Lisa Dettlinger and Ben Evans.
- With a degree in soil science from the University of Kentucky, Leslie Preston Meredith teaches science and social studies at West Hardin Middle School in Cecilia, Ky., and runs the school’s Green Club.
- As state director of The Nature Conservancy of Kentucky, Terry Cook is known for forging partnerships and raising funds for the conservation of natural areas across the state.
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The Bluegrass Youth Sustainability Council is made up of environmentally conscience high school student leaders from both private and public schools in Lexington.
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As a National Board Certified Teacher in biological sciences, Karin Ceralde teaches advanced placement courses to students at Shelby County High School. Her students participate every year in the citizen-science project called the Great Backyard Bird Count in collaboration with the National Audubon Society. Its purpose is to collect data on wild birds, to create a real-time snapshot of bird populations, to learn more about how the birds are doing and how to protect them and the environment we share.
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The DuPont-Louisville Works Plant, located in West Louisville’s Rubbertown area, is the world’s only supplier of Vinyl Fluoride (VF), a chemical used in the manufacture of solar panels. In an effort to produce VF more efficiently while reducing the plant’s environmental footprint, DuPont introduced a new process in early 2012 to reduce the amount of hazardous waste generated by the manufacturing process. In addition to reducing the quantity of hazardous waste generated, the project improved safety performance by eliminating potential occupational health exposure to employees working with the material.
- The Public Service award went to Kurt Mason with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Cleaning up a watershed is no easy feat, but that is what Mason has pledged to do in focusing attention on Beargrass Creek in Louisville. An advocate for land preservation and environmental education, he uses his expertise in the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to zero in on reducing harmful runoff.
- The Lifetime Achievement award recipient is Gordon Garner, a civil engineer from Louisville. Improved sanitation leads to improved public health. That’s why civil engineer Garner has devoted a 32-year career to the engineering and design of public works for the benefit of the general public.
Spring is here, and this is a great time to take stock of our eating habits and take steps to green them. There are many ways to do this, from wasting less food to buying local to starting a garden. Here are some ideas:
· Don’t waste food. Plan out what you need when you do grocery shopping, and eat leftovers. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, over 34 million tons of food waste was created in 2010, and only 3% of this was diverted for composting. With a 2011 USDA study showing that 14.9% of households were food insecure (lacking access to enough nutritious food for an active, healthy life), we should work to avoid food waste for more than just environmental reasons.
· Compost your kitchen scraps. Composting kitchen scraps helps keep waste out of the landfill and turns it into a nutritious additive for your garden. You can compost scraps from vegetables and fruits, coffee grounds, tea bags, and egg shells. Yard waste can also be composted. Dairy, meat, and oils should not go into a compost pile. Learn more about how to start a compost pile.
· Eat food that is in season. When possible, eating food that is locally grown and in season supports our local economy while limiting the energy used in transporting food. View a list of what local food is in season throughout the year in Kentucky.
· Buy local food. Find a list of farmer’s markets, some of which are open year round. Click here to visit Food in Neighborhoods Community Coalition map of farmer's markets. Or, subscribe to a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). This supports our local economy while limiting the energy that goes into transporting food.
· Grow your own food. Start planning your 2014 garden. The Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service has helpful resources for gardeners. If you don’t have space for a home garden, consider getting involved in a community garden. Find a list here from the Extension Service, or learn more about the Billy Goat Hill Community Garden located on Payne Street.
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